Power wheel



Nov'."2 4,1925- 1.563.175

C. A. EDWARDS ET AL POWER .WHEEL Filed Sept. 22. 1925- Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

CHARLES A. =EDWARDS .AND UHARLES F. O1? ZILLAH, NVASHINGTON.

POWER Application filed September To all whom *z't may concern:

Be it known that CHA-nLns A. EDXVARDS and CHARLES F. halessnn, citizens of the United'States, resrding at -Z1llah, 1n the county of Yakima and state of ashington, have invented new :and useful Imp rovements in Power -Wheels, of which' the following 1s a specification.

The presentinvention has for its purpose *the provision=of a device of this kind wherein the construction of the-wheel includes a hollow drum tapered from its cen- 1 ter to thempposite ends;with bladesmounted thereon to be used as propeller blades or as fan blades for cooling purposes, or operated by La current of waterwhen the drum is submerged in a stream and in conjunction wi'th a balance-=wheel on the interior of the drum to insure momentum to the drum when rotating.

l owerwheels have heretofore been devised but which have various disadvantages due t the same being retarded in operation on account of rocks and trash and "for the "reason thatsuch Wl'lGlS are, as a rule, partially submerged in the'water. Obviously,

- as the tide varies, the-partial submersion of the wheel'l ikewisevaries. low tide of =-water wilhhave iioeffect upon the wheel.

Furthermore, it is obvious that the present "construction "of' power "wheel 'may "be used not permit the wa terto have the dos i feet thereon in "order to Insure a mi'xnnum .POWGP. Also'm those wheels whleh are only as aprope'lleron a ship.

allso' power wheels. heretofore used. have the blades too close together which will "ed'ef- -partiall y submerged, the weight and the power of the undercurrent ofthe water is lost, whereasby the use of the present wheel, due tothe saine being I entirely sub- 1 i merged, such 10st powerus gained.

Another purpose is to prov'ide a power wheehwherein the blades are removable from the drum which is also capable of being removed from its supporting shaft which will permit the power wheel to be easily and very cheaply transported. For instance, the present wheel may be shipped practically in a collapsible condition and disassembled and packed in small compass, enabling the Wheel to be easily handled during its transportation.

Also floating trash or floating timber from timbered streams will interfere considerably with the operation of those power WHEEL.

22, 1923. Serial No. 664,163.

wheels which are partially submerged whereas, due to the pr sent construction of y'v-heel being entirely submerged, the floating-trash and timber passes over the wheel a-ndentirely avoids this trouble.

Stillanother purpose is to provide pow- -er wheelwherein the blades are i'nounted upon the drum detachably with suitable boltsor the like, the heads being countersunk" to prevent trash and the like'from ontan-gling therewith. This manner of mounting the blades also permits them to be easily removed for shipment of the wheel.

A further purpose is the provision of a plurality of blades including reinforcing "braces in order 'to'insure that the blades "submerged in a stream of water.

Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view showing the interior construction of .the drum and the mounting of the blades.

"Figure 3 is a sectional view 'on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing how one of the blades *isfastened to the drum by means of the countersunk bolts and also illustrating the brace for the blade.

Figure 4- is a detail view in of one of the blades.

Figure 5'is a detail view on line 5-5 of perspective Figure 1, showing more clearly the angle plates and 'also the abruptness of the ends of the blades.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable reinforced stone, concrete or cement structure which rises from the bed of the stream. This structure may be a combination of stone, cement and concrete. Suitable bearings 2 are mounted upon the end supports 3 of the stone or cement structure and, if found convenient, these bearings may be housed, the housings to contain suit able lubrication to prevent corrosion of the metal parts and to permit the wheel to freely rotate. Such housings (not shown) may be of a conventional form and so constructed as to preclude the water.

Journalled in the bearings 2 is a shaft 4 on which the drum 5 is mounted, the opposite ends of the drum being keyed to rotate with the shaft, as at 6. It is the aim to construct this drum water-tight and disposed upon the interior of the drum centrally thereof is a balance wheel 7 which insures momentum to the drum when in act-ion.

The drum comprises a body of elongated form having a central enlarged portionof substantial diameter with opposite end portions of equal length, said end portions being conical from the central enlarged portion to the remote terminals of the drum. A plurality of blades 8 are mounted on the drum and are relatively curved transversely. The greater portion of each blade is outstanding from the drum and has a right angle edge flange 9 conforming spirally with and secured to one of said conical end portions by means of bolts ll. The heads of the bolts 9 are countersunk to prevent trash and the like from entangling therewith. The inner edge of the remaining portion of each blade is bent over the central enlarged portion of the drum and conforms spirally with decreased fitch over the leading spiral to a relatively short part of the opposite conical end portion, thereby disposing the remaining part of the curved blade spirally and more abruptly. However, the blades may be otherwise disposed if found practicable, though they are curved in order to insure the proper impinging of the water, so as to insure propulsion of the drum and the shaft on which it is mounted. As previously stated, the remaining or lesser portion of each blade conforms spirally to a relatively short part of the opposite end portion of the drum and is fastened to an outstanding flange 10 of an angle plate 11 secured to the drum.

Suitable reinforcing braces of curved contour to conform to the curvature and the disposition of a blade are disposed upon the drum. These reinforcing braces 13 are also secured to the wall of the drum by bolts 1 L which have their heads countersunk obviously for the purpose of preventing trash entangling therewith. One of the braces is carried by the conical portion of the drum and is bent in a suitable manner, as at 15, to permit this reinforcing brace to conform to the curvature of the blade. Also where the braces are secured to the blade, the se curing bolts 16 thereof are countersunk to also prevent the trash from entangling therewith. The other brace of each blade overlies the outstanding flange of the angle plate and is secured by a bolt 17 The head and nut of this belt are also countersunk.

The blades are curved as shown to permit the water to impinge thereagainst to insure imparting a revoluble movement to the drum. Obviously, by rotating the drum or, in other words, belting power to the shaft, the drum may be rotated so that the blades may churn the air, enabling the wheel to be used for cooling purposes. Also when the power is applied to the shaft, the wheel may be used as a propeller for use on various ships.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

-l water-propelled wheel comprising a drum of elongated form having a central enlarged portion of substantial diameter, with opposite end portions of equal lengths, said end portions being conical from the central enlarged portion to the remote terminals of the drum; a plurality of blades on the drum and being relatively curved transversely; the greater portion of each blade being outstanding from the drum, and having a right angle edge flange conforming spirally with and secured to one of said conical end portions; the inner edge of the remaining portion of each blade being bent over the central enlarged portion, and conforming spirally with decreased pitch over the leading spiral to a relatively short part of the opposite end portion, thereby disposing the remaining part of the curved blades spirally and more abruptly, whereby to offer increased resistance to the water and increase the power of the wheel; a pair of braces secured to the drum; and an angle plate secured to said relatively short part of the drum, said angle plate having one of its flanges fastened to and between the blade and certain of the braces, thereby withstanding the water pressure due to the increased resistance.

In testimony whereof they aflix their signatures.

CHARLES A. EDlVARDS. CHARLES F. MESSER. 

